Electric current generating plant



Aug. 2, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 8, 1948 INVENTOR.

Aug. 2, 1949. E. M. GRIFFIN ELECTRIC CURRENT GENERATING PLANT 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1948 Patented Aug. 2, 1949 UNITED STATEE ir sTENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a combination electric current generatingplant. It has for its main object to provide such a plant by combiningnatural power with well known mechanical devices in a manner to takeadvantage of the natural power and transform it into finally generatingelectric current or power. The invention resides in the arrangement andcombination of the elements and parts to produce a final resultconsisting in progressively using the rise and fall of water waves toelevate and lower floats or pontoons coacting with arms and levers tooperate air compressors to store air under pressure for use in drivingturbine or similar type electric generators to thus produce electriccurrent; the assembly of the mechanical parts being contained andsupported in a barge or similar structure. The drawings andspecification are along the line of general structure, it beingunderstood that many variations may be made as to details in sizes andconnections of all the manufactured units comprising the plant.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the drawings anddescription.

By referring to the drawings generally it will be observed that Fig, 1is a plan view of the barge, the air compressors, the floats orpontoons, the operating levers, part of anchoring and holding cables,and the tanks and generators below the decks indicated in broken lines;Fig. 2 is a side elevational view showing the barge partly broken away,the water waves, the air compressors, the floats, the operating levers,the air tanks and electric generators, the electric wires leading fromthe barge, parts of anchoring cables, the shore contact cable, and theadjacent shore connection; and Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on line33 of Fig. 2.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the drawings in detail it will be seen that the combinedpower plant comprises a large barge I held in position by cables 2attached to anchors (not shown) and the shore line 3. Along each side ofthe barge a plurality of floats or pontoons 4 are supported on dependingrods 5 connected to levers 6 with fulcrums 1. Connected to the leversare piston rods 8 of the air compressors 9. The float rods are providedwith cylinder and piston type braces 1' for holding and guiding the rodsas they are moved up and down by the water waves I I. Erected within thebarge below the decks are large air tanks H in connection by suitablepipes l3 with the air compressors. The pipes may be connected in seriesor individually with the compressors. The electric generators I4 adaptedto be operated by compressed air are also installed below the decks.Regular types of electrical connections l5 and wires iii are used tocarry the generated electric current from the power plant to the shorefor final use.

From the foregoing it will appear that the fundamental principle of thecombination is to take advantage of the tremendous power of the waves oflarge bodies of water. There is practically no limit to the size andnumber of the manufactured units that may be employed. In a localitymany average size plants may be preferable over a very few largeinstallations. Such matters would be worked out by engineers familiarwith the units used. In places where waves rolled high large plantswould be used. In a low wave locality a smaller plant would be used.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, I do not wish to limit same to the exact and precise detailsof structure, but reserve the right to make all modifications andchanges so long as they remain within the spirit and scope of thefollowing claim.

Having described my invention I claim:

In a compressed air plant comprising; a large barge floating in water, aplurality of air compressors in pairs mounted upon and in the decks ofsaid barge, a lever mounted upon a fulcrum between each pair of said aircompressors, the piston rods of the air compressors attached to saidlever and positioned one on each side of each fulcrum, each lever havingan integral end extending beyond the side of the barge, a depending rodon each end of said extensions, a float attached on the lower end ofeach depending rod, each depending rod having a cylinder and piston typeguide attached to it and the side of the barge; a plurality of airstorage tanks mounted within said barge, pipe connections leading fromsaid compressors to said air storage tanks adapted to convey compressedair from said compressors to said storage tanks.

EVERETT M. GRIFFIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 571,511 Clark Nov. 1'7, 1896816,934 Newell Apr. 3, 1906 855,258 Neal May 28, 1907 888,721 MilburyMay 26, 1908 901,117 McManus Oct. 13, 1908 1,244,309 Fix Oct. 23, 1917

